Heathrow says there are no easy options
Corporate Affairs Director at Heathrow, Clare Harbord welcomes the Airports Commission shortlist and says every solution will now involve tough choices and political courage.
Heathrowis the UK’s only hub airport and we are determined to make sure that the whole country has a voice in the debate about its future, and the future of aviation for the UK. We’ve been speaking to local residents, business groups, unions and politicians to shape our proposal for a hub airport that benefits the whole of the UK.
We are now entering the next phase. We welcomes today’s interim report from the Airports Commission, which short-lists a
Heathrownorth-west third runway as one of the options for solving the UK’s aviation capacity crisis. Only additional hub capacity can deliver direct and frequent flights to emerging markets.
Heathrowis the quickest, cheapest and surest way to connect the UK to growth.
Heathrowdoes not agree with Gatwick’s stance that there can only be one new runway in the South East. We are pleased that the Commission recognises that there is not a binary choice between providing additional hub capacity or additional point-to-point capacity. We would welcome a solution in which point-to-point airports were allowed to grow alongside the UK’s only hub airport to deliver choice for passengers and airlines.
We have thought afresh about how a third runway can be delivered and
Heathrow’s shortlisted option for a full-length runway is better than the 2003 Air Transport White Paper proposal for a short third runway. There will be fewer households within
Heathrow’s noise footprint with a third runway than there are today due to quieter aircraft, steeper landing approaches, and the runway’s location further to the west. Unlike the previous proposal, our north-west option will deliver periods of community respite from noise with no aircraft overhead.
There are no easy options. Every solution involves tough choices and will require political courage. It is surely right that the Commission now be allowed to rigorously examine the pros and cons of each proposal that it shortlists tomorrow. After 50 years of indecision, history will not look kindly on us if we revert to argument and stalemate with the Commission’s job only half done.
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